2.5.2003: Meldung: Plug Power: Zusammenarbeit mit Vaillant (engl.)

LATHAM, N.Y., April 30 / Plug Power Inc. and partner Vaillant GmbH have installed 13 proton exchange membrane fuel cell heating appliances during the past three months in multi-family homes and small businesses in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Luxemburg.

These systems are supporting both Vaillant customers and the Commission of the European Union""s Virtual Power Plant Program with fuel cell heating appliances that produce up to 9 kilowatts of heat and 4.6 kilowatts of electricity to multi-family homes and small businesses.

Similar in concept to the Long Island Power Authority""s West Babylon Fuel Cell Demonstration Site, the Virtual Power Plant Program envisions a networked collection of fuel cells connected to the electric grid that can be monitored and controlled from a central control facility and operated according to the demands of the electric grid system. Peak shaving, or the ability to reduce total demand on the utility grid by utilizing on-site generation, is a significant area of interest in this program. Over the next year, a total of 44 systems are expected to be installed throughout Europe by Vaillant.

"Thanks to Plug Power""s excellent cooperation, we will begin the second phase of field tests throughout several European countries, partly sponsored by the Commission of the European Union," said Dr. Michel Brosset, Managing Director, Vaillant. "As a result of the valuable experiences we have already gained during past field tests, the ongoing activities are an important step towards a commercial market offering."

Partners in this project include: E.ON Energie, the worlds largest investor-owned energy service provider; Ruhrgas, the leading supplier of natural gas in Germany; and Gasunie, one of the leading Dutch gas suppliers.

"It is a pleasure to work with world-class partners like Vaillant as we continue to execute on our strategy of gaining valuable field experience by deploying fuel cell technology in a variety of practical applications," said Mark Sperry, Chief Marketing Officer, Plug Power.

Plug Power designs, develops and manufactures on-site electric power generation systems utilizing Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells for stationary applications. Plug Power""s fuel cell systems are expected to be sold globally through a joint venture with General Electric and through DTE Energy Technologies in a four-state territory, which includes Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana. The Company""s headquarters are located in Latham, N.Y., with offices in Washington, D.C., and The Netherlands.